Paging DMV area forumites. Anyone up for an offline in late January 26? Or early Feb 2? I propose Brunello as a theme but i am also happy to go themeless. It has been a while since i attended an offline.

quote:

Originally posted by Merengue:
Paging DMV area forumites. Anyone up for an offline in late January 26? Or early Feb 2? I propose Brunello as a theme but i am also happy to go themeless. It has been a while since i attended an offline.

i will have to check a few things, but i think i would be in for an offline on jan. 26 but probably out for one on feb. 2.

brunello works for me... cause i will have to buy wine no matter what the theme is.

and don't feel bad, merengue, there haven't been many offlines to attend in a while.

Saturdays are tough for me except for very late starts. I'll keep an eye on this thread, though. I have a couple of bottles of Brunello.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:
Saturdays are tough for me except for very late starts. I'll keep an eye on this thread, though. I have a couple of bottles of Brunello.

PH

How late is late? I don't mind a late start but it might complicate transport if some decide to use the metro. Any thoughts on venue?

quote:

Originally posted by Merengue:
How late is late?

Probably too late to be starting an offline.... 8ish or so. I'd suggest just trying to get this thing going without counting on me. As far as venue is concerned, if you want to stay in MoCo there are a few places, several in your neck of the woods. Unfortunately the county hasn't updated their list of corkage licensees since November, but here it is: CLICK.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:

quote:

Originally posted by Merengue:
How late is late?

Probably too late to be starting an offline.... 8ish or so. I'd suggest just trying to get this thing going without counting on me. As far as venue is concerned, if you want to stay in MoCo there are a few places, several in your neck of the woods. Unfortunately the county hasn't updated their list of corkage licensees since November, but here it is: CLICK.

PH

i would say that to maximize attendance, we might wanna consider a DC restaurant since that is more central for the VA people (and usually Metro accessible).

looking at that list of MontCo restaurants that allow corkage, i'm a big fan of all Black's places (though they're not cheap), and i found Seasons 52 to be quite a pleasant surprise. went to a media preview there and had dinner there a couple months later. tasty food (best salmon i ever had), fairly healthy food, reasonably priced and a nice atmosphere. they also have a really nice private dining room. plus it's right by the White Flint Metro. and no, this is not a paid endorsement. ;-)

Have to check with the Mrs. and her calendar but think there may be room for a couple Ohioans to join you guys again?

I think I recall Dinwiddie mentioning Dino (near Cleveland Park) was pretty good and since we are talking Brunello, italian seems to make sense. Has anybody eaten there? Nice? Good food? Room and equipment for an offline?

quote:

Originally posted by Merengue:
I think I recall Dinwiddie mentioning Dino (near Cleveland Park) was pretty good and since we are talking Brunello, italian seems to make sense. Has anybody eaten there? Nice? Good food? Room and equipment for an offline?

Dino has a very nice kitchen. It can be a little noisy in the main dining rooms though. Free corkage Monday-Wednesday to boot. They do have a private dining room, but there is a minimum food and beverage that has to be met. Last time I was there I had a wild boar ragu that was absolutely wonderful..... Not too bad with Brunello!!

patespo1, I think I speak for the DMV winos when I say that you and the Mrs. are always welcome to drink wine with us!

PH

i was actually thinking about Dino, too. tis a little noisy, but great Northern Italian food and a natural with Brunello.

and i agree with PH on both counts: the wild boar ragu at Dino rocks, and the patespos are always welcome at our offlines.

personal update: looks like my availability has switched, and that i'd very likely be out on jan. 26 but in on feb. 2

quote:

Originally posted by newsguy:
i was actually thinking about Dino, too. tis a little noisy, but great Northern Italian food and a natural with Brunello.

and i agree with PH on both counts: the wild boar ragu at Dino rocks, and the patespos are always welcome at our offlines.

personal update: looks like my availability has switched, and that i'd very likely be out on jan. 26 but in on feb. 2

Interesting; I may have a last minute trip (pending confirmation) that week as well which would make Feb 2nd better.

quote:

Interesting; I may have a last minute trip (pending confirmation) that week as well which would make Feb 2nd better.

then feb. 2 looking like a definite maybe. of course, would be nice to hear from a few more people.

anyone? bueller?

quote:

Originally posted by newsguy:

quote:

Interesting; I may have a last minute trip (pending confirmation) that week as well which would make Feb 2nd better.

then feb. 2 looking like a definite maybe. of course, would be nice to hear from a few more people.

anyone? bueller?

We are a definite..maybe. Should know by beginning of next week. I passed info along to Jersey Foodie as well.

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:

We are a definite..maybe. Should know by beginning of next week. I passed info along to Jersey Foodie as well.

excellent!

December 2 might be good for me and I think Jake would probably be interested too. Unfortunately my cellar is very sparse in Italian wine, and what there is is Tuscan. I do have a couple of bottles of a very nice 2000 Langhe.

I am out for February 2. Have a blast, gang!

PH

We are out, going to Florida for Super Bowl party

Sorry to miss you, PH. And ditto patespo1. Enjoy that Super Bowl party.

So that would leave merengue+1 and dinwiddie+1 and newsguy+1. That would be six (full pours!), which works for me.

So you both definitely in?

warning: on tuesday, i am going to have to commit to working a couple weekend shifts for the coming two weekends. if i don't get a sense here that we're gonna try to do something on feb. 2, i might have to end up working. so lemme know.

I am still in but likely on my own. But i am Wondering if we should try later when more people are interested?

turns out i am working this saturday, so 2/2 remains open as an offline possibility. but i think you've got a point, merengue. it seems like we are down to so few possible attendees, maybe we should just try for a later date?

an earlier thread elsewhere mentioned that stefania wine might be coming to the DC area in late february and we would hope to do a dinner with paul/stef.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: newsguy,